Automatic waste disposal apparatus

ABSTRACT

An automatic waste disposal apparatus which includes a compaction unit suitable for mounting within an exterior wall of the building, and having a compactor which is vertically operable within the plane of the wall for trash compaction purposes. A trash receiving container is horizontally slideable beneath the compactor from a loading position wherein the container opens interiorly of the building, to a compaction position which aligns beneath the compactor for trash compaction purposes, to a dumping position wherein the container is moved exteriorly of the building for compacted trash deposit purposes. A closed chute receives the compacted trash from the container and exteriorly leads the waste material to a waste receptacle for disposal purposes.

Horn

[ 1 Aug. 28, 1973 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLlCATlONS 433,594 8/1935 Great Britain 193/33 789,200 1/1958 Great Britain 232/43.1

Primary Examiner-Billy .l. Wilhite Attorney-Karl L. Spivak [57] ABSTRACT An automatic waste disposal apparatus which includes a compaction unit suitable for mounting within an exterior wall of the building, and having a compactor which is vertically operable within the plane of the wall for trash compaction purposes. A trash receiving container is horizontally slideable beneath the compactor from a loading position wherein the container opens interiorly of the building, to a compaction position which aligns beneath the compactor for trash compaction purposes, to a dumping position wherein the container is moved exteriorly of the building for compacted trash deposit purposes. A closed chute receives the compacted trash fromthe container and exteriorly leads the waste material to a waste receptacle for disposal purposes.

13 vClaims, 5 Drawing Figures AUTOMATIC WASTE DISPOSAL APPARATUS [76] Inventor: Aleitander Horn, 624 Hazelhurst Ave., Merion, Pa. 19066 [22] Filed: June 15, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 263,301

[52] US. Cl 100/99,100/215, 100/218, 100/229 A, 193/34, 232/43.l [51] Int. Cl B30b 15/32 [58] Field of Search 100/99, 215, 218, 100/229 R, 229 A, 221, 224; 214/26; 193/33, 34; 232/431, 432

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,694,347 12/1928 Symonds etal 193/34 3,171,447 3/1965 Fowler et a1 193/34 X 3,358,590 12/1967 Howard 100/218 3,561,352 2/1971 Hirsch..... 100/215 X 3,650,120 3/1972 Harza 100/218 X 3,651,912 3/1972 Rohner... 193/34X 3,664,576 5/1972 Potuin 232/43.2

WT l l M i 1 PATENTEDmsza ms .INVE NTOR ALE XANDER HORN AUTOMATIC WASTE DISPOSAL APPARATUS BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE posal systems which employ trash compactors in order to reduce the volume of waste prior to disposal, so as to minimize trash handling problems. Waste compressors are well known which function to pressurize waste materials thereby reducing the volume to a fraction of the uncompressed volume. Waste compactors suitable for home use have been developed, as exemplified in US. Pat. No. 3,358,590 which discloses a relatively simple type of waste compaction unit suitable for use in the home and in small commercial establishments.

The prior art waste compaction units are generally satisfactory in operation and function well to compact waste materials both in the home and in such other establishments as industrial buildings, markets, commercial buildings and the like. However, with each type of unit of which I am familiar, it is necessary to manually remove the compacted waste materials from the waste compactor after operation and to carry the compacted material to the point of disposal. In the case of a home type waste compaction unit, the compacted waste materials must be physically carried from the home to the trash receptacle which is generally stored outside.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to compaction type dispo sal units in general and more particularly, is directed to a waste disposal system wherein a waste compactor mounts within an exterior wall and means are provided to load the unit interiorly of the building and additional means are provided to automatically dispose of the compacted materials exteriorly of the building.

The present invention incorporates a waste compaction unit which mounts directly within an exterior wall of a building and has a waste compaction ram which is vertically reciprocal within the plane of the exterior wall. The waste receiving container mounts on horizontal tracks and is horizontally movable between three positions. Namely, a loading position interiorly of the wall-wherein waste materials may be introduced into the container, a compaction position wherein the container aligns below the ram for waste compaction purposes and a dumping position wherein the compacted waste products may be deposited automatically into an exteriorly positioned waste receptacle.

In a preferred embodiment, the exterior waste receptacle is provided with a switch responsive to the buildup of the compacted wastematerials to activate a warning light within-the building tothereby alert the operator toempty the waste receptacle. The waste receptacle is provided with an inwardly inclined baffle to urge the compacted bales of waste material toward the warning light switchtoassure positive operation of the switch upon the presence of. a: sufficient pile of waste material.

By employing an automatic waste disposal in accordance with the presentinvention, the compaction operating elements position within the exterior wall itself and thereby require no interior floor space whatsoever. The apparatus is completely enclosed and is automatic in ejecting the compressed waste materials, thereby eliminating the possibility of creating odors within the kitchen or other interior room. The exterior waste receiving receptacle connects to the compaction unit through a closed chute to thereby discourage animals such as dogs and cats and children from interfering with the compacted materials. By employing the horizontally sliding compaction container with openings both interiorly and exteriorly of the building, the for mer practice of physically carrying the waste materials from the home or other building can now be completely eliminated, and the unit itself serves to discharge the waste materials exteriorly of the building.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved automatic waste removal system of the type set forth.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a novel automatic waste removal system which employs a waste compaction unit wherein the waste compactor mounts directly within an exterior wall of the building.

It is a further object of the present invention to pro-. vide a novel automatic waste disposal system which employs a waste compactor which is mounted within an exterior wall and is vertically reciprocal therein and a waste receiving container which is horizontally slideable beneath the waste compactor unit.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a novel automatic waste removal system which incorporates an exterior wall mounted waste compactor, a waste receiving container which is horizontally slideable relative to the waste compactor, the said container being slideable from a loading position wherein waste materials are loaded into the container to a compaction position wherein the container aligns beneath the waste compactor for waste compaction purposes, to a dumping position wherein the compacted materials are deposited exteriorly of the building.

It is afurther object of the present invention to provide an automatic waste disposal system which includes means to load waste materials within the building, means to compact the waste material and means to discharge the compacted materials exteriorly of the building without the need for physically leaving the building.

It isv another object of the present invention to provide a novel automatic waste disposal system which includes a vertically reciprocal waste compaction unit, a waste receiving container which is horizontally slide: able beneath the waste compaction unit, said container having means suitable to discharge waste materials after compaction directly outside of the building.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a novel automatic waste disposal system that is rugged in construction, simple in design and troublefree when in use.

Other objects and a fuller understanding of the invention will be had by referring to thevfollowing description and claims of a preferred embodiment thereof, taken in conjunction withthe accompanying drawings, wherein like reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views and in which:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a cross sectional view showing the arrange ment of the operating parts both interiorly and exteriorly of the building, and partly broken away to expose details of interior construction.

FIG. 2 is a an enlarged, perspective view of the waste receiving container, partially broken away to disclose details of internal construction.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged, perspective view of the exterior waste receptacle, partly broken away to disclose details of interior construction.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged, side elevational view of the warning switch associated with the exterior receptacle.

FIG. 5 is a front elevational view of the apparatus as viewed from the interior of the building.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION Although specific terms are used in the following description for the sake of clarity, these terms are intended to refer only to the particular structure of my invention selected for illustration in the drawings, and are not intended to define or limit the scope of the invention.

Referring now to the drawings, I show in FIG. 1 an automatic waste disposal apparatus which is mounted directly within an exterior wall 12 of a building, such as a residence 14. A conventional'waste compaction apparatus 16 mounts within the plane of the wall 12 in suitable manner to permit vertical operation from the unloaded postion 18 as illustrated in full lines to the compaction position 20 as illustrated in broken lines. The waste compaction apparatus 16 may be similar to residential type waste compactors as presently manufactured and widely distributed under the trademarks Whirlpool or Kenmore, or other brands similar in construction thereto. The compaction apparatus 16 includes interior and exterior access panels 22, 24 which are both decorative and functional in nature and serve the dual purposes of facilitating installation and servicing of the waste compaction apparatus and also in shielding the apparatus from view after installation to thereby present an aesthetically pleasing installation. The access panels 22, 24 serve as closures and define an interior space 26 provided in the exterior wall 12 for compactor installation.

A pair of transversely spaced tracks 28 (only one being illustrated) position near the bottom of the space 26 and are affixed to the wall construction 12 in conventional manner to slidingly receive the compaction container 30 thereon. The compaction container 30 is equipped with a pair of transversely spaced guides 32, 34 which cooperate with the spaced tracks 28 in horizontal sliding engagement to permit the compaction container 30 to be moved horizontally relative to the wall 12. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the compaction container 30 is manually movable along the tracks 28 from a dumping position 36 as illustrated in full lines to a forward loading position 38 as illustrated in dotted lines to a compaction position 40, also as illustrated in dotted lines.

Referring now to FIG. 2, I show the compaction container 30 which is generally formed to a rectangular parallel piped, configuration having vertical sides 42, 44, 46, 48 an open top 50 and a hingably connected, openable bottom 52. The bottom 52 pivots about the hinge 54 and is normally retained in the horizontal,

closed, position by the bottom wall frame member 56 which coacts with the bottom affixed roller 58 when in the loading position 38 and in the compaction position 40 (FIG. 1). The container bottom 52 is equipped with a roller 58 which rolls upon the bottom frame member 56 when the container 30 is being urged between the compaction position 40 and the loading position 38 and vice versa. When the container 30 is pushed to its said dumping position 36, the roller 58 rides upon the inclined frame member 60 to thereby allow the bottom 52 to pivot to the dumping position 62 as illustrated in full lines in FIG. 1. A handle 64 connects to the vertical side 46 to facilitate pulling or pushing the compaction container 30 to any of its three said positions.

As best seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, the equipment frame 66 extends exteriorly of the wall 12 to' provide a roof 68 and an enclosing rear wall 70 which are supported exteriorly of the residence 14 in any suitable, structurally secure'manner. A horizontal bumper 72 mounts upon the rear wall 70 and inwardly projects to engage the compaction container 30 when the container is pushed to its dumping position 36. Preferably, the rearwardly facing vertical side 42 is medially divided into an upper section 74 which is securely affixed to the adjacent container sides 44, 48 and a lower section 76. The lower section 76 pivotally connects to the sides 44, 48 in a manner to permit rotative movement with respect thereto such as by employing pivoting pins 78 in well known manner. Rearward urging of the compaction container 30 causes the lower section 78 to strike the horizontal bumper 72 and thereby pivot about the pivot pins 78 in a counter-clockwise direction to the position illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2. The pivotal movement of the lower section 78 serves to loosen any compacted material (not shown) which may be stranded near the bottom of the container 30 when the container bottom 52 swings to its dumping position 62. A coil spring or similar construction 80 biases the lower section 78 normally to the vertical position once it is pulled out of engagement with the bumper 72. The upper and lower sections 74, 78 of the rearwardly facing side 42 align in a vertical plane at all times except when the container 30 is rearwardly moved for dumping purposes. In this manner, the lower section 76 will not in any way interfere with loading trash into the container when in the loading position 78 or compacting the trash within the container when the container is moved to the compaction position 40.

The sides 44, 48 of the container 30 are equipped with brackets 80, 82 which position near the open top 50 thereof and cooperate with a pair of spaced rollers 84 (only one being illustrated in FIG. 1) for container positioning purposes during the compaction operation. The rollers 84 and brackets 80, 82 serve to precisely vertically align the compaction container 30 when the waste compaction apparatus 16 is in the compaction position 20. The brackets 80, 82 may be configured as necessary to interact with the rollers 84 to lock the container 30 in its compaction position 20 during the waste compacting operations. If desired, an electrical interlock can be provided between the brackets 80, 82 and the rollers 84 in well known manner and be wired into the electrical operating circuits (not shown) of the waste compaction apparatus 16 to prevent operation of the compaction apparatus unless the container 30 is properly positioned.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 3, an enclosed dump chute 86 is constructed to provide an enclosed path between the compaction container 30 and the waste receptacle 88 to prevent children, animals or others from interfering with the waste material (not shown). A louver 90 is provided in the rear wall 70 for ventilation purposes to prevent the possible build-up of odors within the exterior dump chute 86 or within the enclosed space 26. The chute 86 terminates downwardly in an exterior frame 92 which serves both to cover the waste receptacle 88 and to support a pair of transversely spaced tracks 94 for waste receptacle carrying purposes. The waste receptacle 88 is provided with a pair of cooperating spaced guides 96, 98 which slide within the tracks 94 in well known manner to permit the receptacle 88 to be movable between a loading position 100 as illustrated in full lines in FIG. 1 to a disposal position 102 as indicated in broken lines in FIG. 1. An operating handle 104 affixes to the rear wall 106 of the receptacle 88 to permit manual, horizontal sliding movement of the receptacle relative to the dump chute 86. Preferably, the exterior frame 92 includes a resilient flap 108 which serves to seal the connection the receptacle 88 and'the chute 86 and further serves to permit movement of the receptacle relative to the chute. The waste receptacle 88 is formed with contiguous, vertical side walls 110, 112, a front wall 114 and a rear wall 106, the said walls serving to define an open top 116 through which the compacted waste (not shown) is dumped upon operation of the hinged bottom 52 and hinged lower section 76 of the compaction container 30. A closed bottom 118 integrally connects to the sides 110, 112, the front 114 and rear 106 to contain waste material therein. Preferably, the bottom 118 inclines upwardly from the horizontal to tilt forwardly to thereby urge the compacted waste materials (not shown) toward the front wall 114. Additionally, an inclined baffle 120 is pivotal about the bottom edge 122 and inclines inwardly in the direction of the front wall 114. A position fixer 124 may be provided in the baffle 120 to regulate the amount of inclination of the baffle in the direction of the front wall. The inclined baffle 120 and the inclined bottom 118 of the waste receptacle 88 cooperate to urge the compacted waste material (not shown) in the direction of the front wall 114.

An automatic indicator switch 126 is provided in the front wall 114 of the waste receptacle 88 to alert the homeowner when the receptacle has been filled near its capacity. See FIGS. 1, 3 and 4. The switch 126 includes a push button 128 which projects interiorly of the receptacle. A pressure plate 130 is pivotal about a hinge 132 and is positioned to pressurize the push button 128 upon build-up of waste materials within the receptacle. A coil spring '134 continuously biases the pressure plate 130 away from the push button 128' and this spring must be depressed by the weight of waste materials pressing inwardly upon the plate 130p'rior to the function of the-switch 126. Preferably, a vinyl or soft rubber cover 136 encloses'the switch 126', push button 128, pressure plate 130 and coil spring 134 to prevent the entrance of foreign materials which might otherwise interfere with the operation ofthe switch. A ventilating opening 138 is provided through the receptacle front wall 114 to act as a breather when the pressure plate '130 pivots inwardly or outwardly beneath the cover 136. As waste materials (not shown) are dumped into the receptacle 88, the'inclined floor 118 and inclined baffle 120 operate to push the waste material toward the front wall 114 until the material builds up in the vitioned upon the interior access panel 22 (FIG. 5) to thereby alert the operator that it is necessary to empty the waste receptacle 88. The electrical circuit 140 includes an electrical receptacle 144 which affixes to a side, for example side wall 110 of the waste receptacle to receive a flexible cord (not shown) in removable rials contained within the container 30. Upon complecinity of the switch 126. The compacted material then tion of the compaction operation, the container 30 may be again loaded and compacted or may be pushed to its rearward, dumping position 36 to allow the compressed materials to dump into the waste receptacle 88.'The bottom 52 pivots about its hinge 54 when the roller 58 acts upon the inclined frame member 60 until it swings to the dumping position 62. The stationary horizontal bumper 72 pushes the lower rear wall section 76 inwardly about its pivot pins 78 to facilitate the dumping operation.

After the waste materials have been dropped into the waste receptacle 88, the compaction container 30 can then be pulled to either the compaction position 40 or the loading position 38, as desired. As the compaction container is pulled forwardly, the roller 58 rides upon the inclined frame member 60 to urge the bottom 52 to the full horizontal position to close the bottom of the container 30 for receipt of additional waste materials. The dumped, compacted trash builds up upon the bottom 118 of the waste receptacle 88 and the inclined bottom 118 and inclined baffle serve to urge the waste materials forwardly into contact with the receptacle front wall 1 14. Continued build up of waste mate'- rials within the receptacle 88 causes the warning switch 126 to activate an indicator lamp 142 to alert the operator that it is time to remove the waste receptacle 88 and to dispose of the compacted waste materials in conventional manner.

Although I have described the present invention with reference to particular embodiments therein set forth, it is understood that the present disclosure has been made only by way of example and that numerous changes in the details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Thus, the scope of the invention should not be limited by the foregoing specification, but rather only by the scope of the claims appended hereto.

1 claim: w

1. In an automatic waste disposal apparatus suitable for use in a building having an interior, an exterior and an exterior wall situate therebetween, said wall having an opening therein, the combination of I A. a waste compaction apparatus mounted in the opening in the exterior wall, 1. said apparatus having vertical reciprocal motion within the plane of the wall;

B. compaction container means mounted for movement through the wall below the waste compaction apparatus,

1. said compaction container means having horizontal movement relative to the waste compaction apparatus to receive and dump waste materials,

(2.) said compaction container means being provided with dumping means,

a. said dumping means functioning exteriorly of the building;

(3.) said compaction container means being provided with a handle,

a. said handle functioning interiorly of the building.

2. The invention of claim 1 wherein the compaction container means is horizontally movable from a loading position wherein the loading means position interiorly of the building to a compaction position wherein the loading means vertically align beneath the waste compaction apparatus to a dumping position wherein the dumping means position exteriorly of the building.

3. The invention of claim 2 wherein the compaction container means includes a container defined by a front wall, a rear wall, a pair of side walls, a bottom and an open top, the said bottom being pivotally mounted and being pivotal from a closed position to a dumping position. I

4. The invention of claim 3 wherein alignment means are provided to maintain the container bottom in horizontal alignment when the container is in either the loading position or compaction position, the said bottom pivoting when the container is moved to its said dumping position.

5. The invention of claim 4 wherein the said wall opening has a floor and the alignment means include a roller affixed to the container bottom, the said roller contacting the opening floor when the container is moved between the loading and compaction positions, said roller being urged away from the floor when the container moves to the dumping position to permit the bottom to pivot to the dumping position.

6. The invention of claim 5 wherein the dumping means include an exteriorly mounted bumper, said bumper contacting the rear wall when the compaction container means are moved to the said dumping position.

7. The invention of claim 6 wherein the rear wall is horizontally divided into an upper section and a lower section, the said upper section being rigidly affixed to the side walls, the said lower section being pivotally mounted.

8. The invention of claim 7 wherein the lower section strikes the bumper when the compaction container means are moved to the dumping position, said bumper pivoting the lower section inwardly to aid in dumping compacted waste materials.

9. The invention of claim 8 and an exteriorly positioned waste receptacle mounted in registry below the compaction container means when said means are moved to the dumping position, said waste receptacle receiving waste materials as they are dumped from the compaction container and an enclosed chute leading from the compaction container to the waste receptacle.

10. The invention of claim 9 wherein the waste receptacle is provided with inclined means to urge the waste materials to pile up in a single direction.

11. The invention of claim 10 wherein the inclined means include an inclined bottom of the waste receptacle.

12. The invention of claim 11 wherein the inclined means also include an inclined side of the waste receptacle.

13. The invention of claim 12 and a switch responsive to the build-up of waste material within the waste receptacle, said switch being activated by the presence of waste materials, and an indicator lamp adapted to be activated by said switch. 

1. In an automatic waste disposal apparatus suitable for use in a building having an interior, an exterior and an exterior wall situate therebetween, said wall having an opening therein, the combination of A. a waste compaction apparatus mounted in the opening in the exterior wall,
 1. said apparatus having vertical reciprocal motion within the plane of the wall; B. compaction container means mounted for movement through the wall below the waste compaction apparatus,
 1. said compaction container means having horizontal movement relative to the waste compaction apparatus to receive and dump waste materials, (2.) said compaction container means being provided with dumping means, a. said dumping means functioning exteriorly of the building; (3.) said compaction container means being provided with a handle, a. said handle functioning interiorly of the building.
 2. The invention of claim 1 wherein the compaction container means is horizontally movable from a loading position wherein the loading means position interiorly of the building to a compaction position wherein the loading means vertically align beneath the waste compaction apparatus to a dumping position wherein the dumping means position exteriorly of the building.
 3. The invention of claim 2 wherein the compaction container means includes a container defined by a front wall, a rear wall, a pair of side walls, a bottom and an open top, the said bottom being pivotally mounted and being pivotal from a closed position to a dumping position.
 4. The invention of claim 3 wherein alignment means are provided to maintain the container bottom in horizontal alignment when the container is in either the loading position or compaction position, the said bottom pivoting when the container is moved to its said dumping position.
 5. The invention of claim 4 wherein the said wall opening has a floor and the alignment means include a roller affixed to the container bottom, the said roller contacting the opening floor when the container is moved between the loading and compaction positions, said roller being urged away from the floor when the container moves to the dumping position to permit the bottom to pivot to the dumping position.
 6. The invention of claim 5 wherein the dumping means include an exteriorly mounted bumper, said bumper contacting the rear wall when the compaction container means are moved to the said dumping position.
 7. The invention of claim 6 wherein the rear wall is horizontally divided into an upper section and a lower section, the said upper section being rigidly affixed to the side walls, the said lower section being pivotally mounted.
 8. The invention of claim 7 wherein the lower section strikes the bumper when the compaction container means are moved to the dumping position, said bumper pivoting the lower section inwardly to aid in dumping compacted waste materials.
 9. The invention of claim 8 and an exteriorly positioned waste receptacle mounted in registry below the compaction container means when said means are moved to the dumping position, said waste receptacle receiving waste materials as they are dumped from the compaction container and an enclosed chute leading from the compaction container to the waste receptacle.
 10. The invention of claim 9 wherein the waste receptacle is provided with inclined means to urge the waste materials to pile up in a single direction.
 11. The invention of claim 10 wherein the inclined means include an inclined bottom of the waste receptacle.
 12. The invention of claim 11 wherein the inclined means also include an inclined side of the waste receptacle.
 13. The invention of claim 12 and a switch responsive to the build-up of waste material within the waste receptacle, said switch being activated by the presence of waste materials, and an indicator lamp adapted to be activated by said switch. 